Overview & Reviews

Chevrolet sells an impressively wide range of vehicles, from subcompact hatchbacks to huge vans and SUVs. If you're looking for a reasonably priced vehicle, odds are that Chevy will have something to fit your needs.

Chevrolet got its start in 1911. After William C. Durant had been ousted from General Motors, he joined forces with Swiss-born racecar driver Louis Chevrolet to found the Chevrolet Motor Car Company. The company's first offering was the Classic Six. Introduced in 1912, this five-passenger touring sedan could top 65 mph, fast for the time. Chevrolet's storied bowtie logo -- reportedly inspired by the wallpaper of a Paris hotel room that Durant stayed at -- made its first appearance in 1914.

By 1918, Chevrolet's profitability allowed Durant to purchase enough shares in GM to regain control. Chevrolet became another division of GM, and was its largest volume division by the mid-1920s. By 1927, Chevrolet outsold rival Ford, with sales in excess of 1 million units.

In the mid-1930s Chevrolet introduced independent front suspension, which provided a smoother ride over the rough roads of the day. The 1940s saw continued success with affordable coupes, sedans and pickup trucks catering to American families, farmers and businessmen.

By the mid-1950s, Chevrolet, GM's entry-level division, had added a V8 engine, power steering and brakes, power windows and air-conditioning to its list of available features, allowing luxury for those on a tighter budget. Around this time the iconic Bel Air model -- available in coupe, sedan, convertible and wagon body styles -- proved very popular. The company introduced its alluring Corvette in 1953; the vehicle was the first mass-produced car with a fiberglass body.

The 1960s saw the unveiling of the popular, air-cooled Corvair compact, which held the distinction of being the first domestic production car with all-around independent suspension. That decade also witnessed the launch of the compact Nova, the midsize Chevelle and the sporty Camaro, the latter Chevrolet's answer to the wildly successful Ford Mustang. The Camaro proved an instant hit, comprising 10 percent of Chevrolet's total sales in 1967, its first year of production.

In the 1970s, Chevy responded to changing preferences by introducing small cars like the Vega and the Chevette, and by downsizing larger models such as the Caprice and Malibu. The company combated the market domination of foreign nameplates in the 1980s by rolling out the Cavalier. By the end of that decade, trucks and SUVs had started to become increasingly popular with the general consumer, and the brand's mid- and full-size models continue to this day to be some of the most popular on the road.

The '90s and the early 2000s saw the company raising the performance bar with its Corvette (notably the Z06 and, later, ZR1 variants) and reincarnated Impala SS. Chevrolet's Silverado pickup truck and Tahoe/Suburban SUVs continued to be hits as well. By 2010, the Camaro had returned to the lineup after a seven-year hiatus.

Modern times have seen Chevrolet make significant improvements in its small and midsize car models and introduce the Volt plug-in hybrid. The latter provides a nearly 40-mile range on electric power alone, and adds to the company's already well-rounded lineup of cars, trucks and SUVs. Though today's marketplace is very demanding, Chevrolet seems poised to remain a power player through its affordable and innovative vehicles.

User Reviews:

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  Awesome Truck! - 2007 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Linda R. - August 15 - 7:00 am

  The Chevy Equinox is a true competitor against the RAV4 and Santa Fe. I test drove both, and the Equinox is the best one. My decision made up of all the nice features the Equinox offers at a lower price than both the Santa Fe and RAV4. Also, the styling is so much better than the other two. The Equinox has a pretty quiet engine, it can accelerate quickly and performs well. The gas mileage is good considering its size. The new and improved 2007 interior is better than the 06 one. The truck is the biggest, inside/out, compared to the Santa Fe and RAV4. Even the stock sound system is the best. Overall, the car is fun to drive and I am happy with my purchase. This truck rocks!

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  Great Truck - 2000 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By George P. Burdell - August 14 - 8:00 pm

  Great truck. Drives like a car.

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  Outstanding - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid
  By Brent - August 13 - 8:26 pm

  This vehicle is my daily driver. It will definitely exceed the EPA listed mileage. Im currently averaging 35+ mpg in mixed city/highway driving. Given the nature of this car, performance was not at the top of my list, but it will move when you ask it to, and get solid mileage the rest of the time.

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  car kicks . . . - 1999 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By MAtthew - August 13 - 2:00 am

  i bought this car a short will ago it has been great havent had to do anything to it exept for some new rims because the caps r ugly but other than that it has made it from colorado to massachusetts and california without any problems exept for gas!!

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  Love My Car - 1998 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Lynniepooh - August 13 - 2:00 am

  I love my car. When I was looking and I was looking for a car I wanted a safe, goodlooking car. A lot of the safe cars are old people looking. The Monte Carlo is for all ages. I was so picky on finding a car. It took me 3 years to find the one I like.

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  A Great Car! - 2003 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Mayur - August 13 - 2:00 am

  Just bought the LS with leather, power sunroof, spoiler, upgraded sound system with the cassette. PAID $17,000 out the door with TAXES...had $2500 on my gm credit card rebate and plus $3000 from GM....cant beat yeah I know when I am going to sell it... i will get 1-2K less then a Honda Accord or Toyota Camry...but guess what? I PAID 7-10K to begin with!! BTW, JDPower ranks Malibu Best Entry Midsize...GO AMERICAN CARS! :)

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  Great truck - 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By jtop - August 13 - 2:00 am

  My truck has been very reliable. 5.3 sounds great with dual exhaust. sunset metallic orange is a great color. dodges and fords orange looks like crap. the auto trac kicks butt. you wont find a more controlled ride in the snow and ice

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  Buy the LT Model - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Mike Griffin - August 13 - 2:00 am

  The heated leather seats, onstar system, pwoerful engine and tight handling are features that make this truck a better option than the F-150. (I owned 2001 Ford Supercrew before buying the Chevy. After the first year, I have had no problems with the Silverado and it handles better than any truck. The LT model is worth the extra money.

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  Great truck - 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By whatever - August 12 - 7:11 pm

  Hard to believe it is a truck. Rides better than my wifes Denali SUV! Sure get poor mileage with E85 though.

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  Car is awesome - 1999 Chevrolet Prizm
  By lovemyprizm - August 12 - 7:22 am

  I bought my Prizm because of the fuel economy, and figured it would at least get me back and forth throuh 4 years of commuting to college. Its now at 124,000 miles and still runs like its new! There are little things that are starting to wear out now, like my heater/air conditioner blower only works on high, but thats just age and can be delt with. This is a totally reliable car and gets great gas mileage. I average anwhere between 35 and 40 mpg depending on the type of driving Im doing. I would reccomend this car to anyone thinking of buying one. Its a practical car, so if your looking for sporty its not the car for you.